-myKhel Team

Spain eased past Serbia 3-0 at Estadio de la Ceramica, with Rodri captaining the side on a first start since 2024 and Mikel Oyarzabal hitting two goals, while debutant Victor Munoz also scored in a dominant friendly performance on Friday.

Rodri wore the armband in Villarreal, the stadium where Rodri once played club football, and stayed on for 77 minutes before Martin Zubimendi replaced Rodri. The Manchester City midfielder led a Spain team that controlled the match from the opening stages.

Oyarzabal’s double against Serbia lifted Oyarzabal to 24 international goals, taking Oyarzabal past Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferran Torres and Sergio Ramos into ninth place on Spain’s all-time scoring list. Oyarzabal now targets Emilio Butragueno, Fernando Morientes and Fernando Hierro during this World Cup year.

The Real Sociedad forward is closing on Butragueno, who scored 26 times for Spain, while Morientes finished with 27 and Hierro with 29. With Spain scheduled for more matches in 2026, Oyarzabal could realistically move higher if fitness and form continue.

The occasion carried extra meaning for Rodri, who came through Villarreal’s youth system after joining from Atletico Madrid in 2013 and later made 84 senior appearances for Villarreal. Captaining Spain at this venue added another personal chapter for the midfielder.

The meeting with Serbia marked Rodri’s first international start since 8 September 2024, when Spain beat Switzerland in the Nations League shortly after Spain defeated England in the Euro 2024 final. Rodri had been named Player of the Tournament at that European Championship.

An anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered a few weeks after the Switzerland match, during a Premier League game between Manchester City and Arsenal, then halted Rodri’s progress. Rodri returned for brief Nations League cameos from the bench against Bulgaria and Turkiye before regaining full match rhythm.

“The feeling is unbeatable,” Rodri said after Friday’s game. “It has been a long road, but we are already here, enjoying football and the national team again, which is the maximum we can dream of. It was a very special scenario for me.”

Spain, Rodri and team focus before Egypt friendly

Victor Munoz added Spain’s third goal after replacing Oyarzabal, finishing a one-sided contest and marking Munoz’s debut with a goal. Despite the result coming in a friendly, Spain’s performance suggested strong depth and competition across several positions.

“Things always change, with new players coming in too, but it’s always the same mentality and the same way of understanding football. We are in a very good moment, we don’t have to relax, we still have things to improve and polish, the team is growing. They are friendly, but we don’t treat them that way, and we are going for the next game. We go day by day, we don’t think much further ahead. We have important games to prepare for and go with good feelings. We have to take them as an opportunity to test each other, understand each other, continue to grow and, obviously, the coach is trying new things.”

Spain’s next fixture comes against Egypt on Tuesday, offering further preparation and another opportunity for Oyarzabal to add to Spain’s goal charts. The match also allows Luis de la Fuente to assess tactical options and continue Rodri’s reintegration after the long injury lay-off.

“I wouldn’t have imagined being able to be there, but you always want more, you always want to keep pushing. I’m happy that the goals serve to help the team,” Oyarzabal said. “When I play like I did today, scoring goals, or when I play differently, I always try to look for the collective good.”

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